Mattress for surgery stretcher

Abstract

A mattress for a stretcher comprises a mattress back portion supported on the stretcher back frame, a mattress shoulder portion supported on the stretcher head frame and a mattress head portion supported on the stretcher head rest. The thickness of the mattress shoulder portion is reduced relative to the thickness of the mattress back portion so that upwardly facing top surfaces of the mattress back and shoulder portions are generally coplanar.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A mattress for a stretcher having a seat frame configured to support a patient's seat, a back frame configured to support a patient's back, and a head frame configured to support a patient's shoulders, the mattress comprising: 
       a) a mattress seat portion supported on the seat frame,  
       b) a mattress back portion supported on the back frame, and  
       c) a mattress shoulder portion supported on the head frame,  
       wherein the back frame defines a first, generally horizontal, upwardly facing support surface, wherein the head frame defines a second, generally horizontal, upwardly facing support surface that is raised relative to the first, generally horizontal, upwardly facing support surface defined by the back frame, wherein the thickness of the mattress shoulder portion is reduced relative to the thickness of the mattress back and seat portions so that upwardly facing top surfaces of the mattress shoulder, back and seat portions are generally coplanar, and wherein the mattress shoulder portion includes a portion configured to be releasably coupled to the head frame.  
     
     
       2. The mattress of  claim 1 , wherein the head frame includes a pair of transversely spaced-apart longitudinally-extending side members, and wherein the portion of the the mattress shoulder portion includes a pair of flaps, one on each side of the mattress shoulder portion, configured to be coupled to the side members of the head frame. 
     
     
       3. The mattress of  claim 2 , wherein the flaps are configured to be looped around the side members of the head frame and coupled to the underside of the mattress shoulder portion to form sleeves enclosing the side members to allow the mattress shoulder portion to slide relative to the side members. 
     
     
       4. The mattress of  claim 3 , wherein the flaps are configured to be coupled to the underside of the mattress shoulder portion by hook and loop type fasteners. 
     
     
       5. The mattress of  claim 4 , wherein the flaps are configured to be coupled to the underside of the mattress shoulder portion by snap buttons. 
     
     
       6. The mattress of  claim 2 , wherein the flaps are configured to be looped around the side members of the head frame and coupled to the inside walls of the side members. 
     
     
       7. The mattress of  claim 6 , wherein the flaps are configured to be looped around the side members of the head frame and coupled to the inside walls of the side members by snap buttons. 
     
     
       8. A mattress for a stretcher including a back frame defining a first, generally horizontal, upwardly facing support surfaces, a head frame defining a second, generally horizontal, upwardly facing support surface that is spaced above the first, generally horizontal, upwardly facing support surface defined by the back frame, and a head rest, the mattress comprising: 
       a mattress back portion supported on the back frame,  
       a mattress shoulder portion supported on the head frame, wherein the thickness of the mattress shoulder portion is reduced relative to the thickness of the mattress back portion so that upwardly facing top surfaces of the mattress back and shoulder portions are generally coplanar, and  
       a mattress head portion supported on the head rest, wherein the mattress head portion is narrower in width than the mattress shoulder portion.  
     
     
       9. A mattress for a stretcher having a seat frame configured to support a patient's seat, a back frame configured to support a patient's back, a head frame configured to support a patient's shoulders and a head rest configured to support a patient's head, the mattress comprising: 
       a) a mattress seat portion supported on the seat frame,  
       b) a mattress back portion supported on the back frame, and  
       c) a mattress shoulder portion supported on the head frame,  
       d) a mattress head portion supported on the head rest,  
       wherein the back support defines a first, generally horizontal, upwardly facing support surface, wherein the head frame defines a second, generally horizontal, upwardly facing support surface that is raised relative to the first, generally horizontal, upwardly facing support surface defined by the back frame, wherein the thickness of the mattress shoulder portion is reduced relative to the thickness of the mattress back and seat portions so that upwardly facing top surfaces of the mattress shoulder, back and seat portions are generally coplanar, and wherein the mattress head portion is narrower in width than the mattress shoulder portion.  
     
     
       10. A mattress for a stretcher including a back frame defining a first, generally horizontal, upwardly facing support surface, a head frame defining a second, generally horizontal, upwardly facing support surface that is spaced above the first, generally horizontal, upwardly facing support surface defined by the back frame and a head rest configured to support a patient's head, the mattress comprising: 
       a mattress back portion supported on the back frame, and  
       a mattress shoulder portion supported on the head frame, wherein the thickness of the mattress shoulder portion is reduced relative to the thickness of the mattress back portion so that upwardly facing top surfaces of the mattress back and shoulder portions are generally coplanar, and wherein the mattress shoulder portion is wider than the mattress back portion, and  
       a mattress head portion supported on the head rest.  
     
     
       11. The mattress of  claim 10 , wherein the mattress head portion is narrower in width than the mattress shoulder portion.